My first video ever, Spiegel Grove. Sony SR12, Ikelite housing

[bottomfeeder22]

Well, after much research and saving, I finally got my u/w rig and took it to Key Largo. Here's a short of the Grove, my first experience with shooting and editing. Constructive criticism welcome. I did get lazy with a couple of the transitions.

I was making a concerted effort to reduce shaking, but it was MUCH harder than I thought, even keeping the camera zoomed all the way out. How do you experienced videogs keep your cameras so still???? Surely all of you aren't using that Shake program from Apple (and if so, is there one for us PC users???).


http://vimeo.com/3403509

Ok, I don't know how to embed, as that big long embed mumbo jumbo didn't do anything but print here in my thread instead of putting the video here, help a noob out!

 

[BeckyKagan]

a few tricks to keeping your video still. Make sure you have good buoyancy and good dive skills, zoom with your fins not with your lens....so swim up closer to the object. make sure your camera is properly weighted. If it is you hardly need to touch it. Lots of practice...you will learn your own tricks but those are some big ones!

I couldn't view your video, i'll have to check back later for it! Congrats!

 

[Cajuncru Diver]

Brian
Really great vis and didn't look like the current was ripping too bad......enjoyed the video....look forward to seeing much more

 

[robint]

okay, just watched your video and I have lots of comments....

1. this is your first attempt at underwater video so don't take the criticism too hard.
2. you don't have much usuable footage there due to shake and moving too fast. You have got to slow down, hold the housing steady and do lots of still shots as well as panning (slowly) and swimming around shots (slowly). Go slow or don't shoot at all. Save the battery for when you can be still.
3. where was your red filter? the whole thing is very blue or green.
4. what editing program were you using? Most of the decent programs have color correction. The B&W old-timey entro and end of video weren't effective as it looked like the camcorder was malfunctioning, I would save that type of thing for where it is obvious what you are trying to do. Also, you need to edit out all the out-of-focus shots, camcorder swinging around too fast, etc. Edit, edit, edit.
5. How do we hold the camcorder so still? Practice, practice, practice....... and edit, edit, edit out any time it isn't still. You don't want your viewer to get seasick watching the video, you want them to wish they had been on the dive with you as it looks so interesting and fun.
6. Remember, your viewers may or may not be divers, so their attention span is very short, don't bore them, Wow them, make it interesting!

Doing the Speigel Grove as your very first dive with the camcorder was not the best place to learn videography. YOu should take it on some shallower, calmer, dives with more color and less "task loading" for you as a diver. YOu will get much more usable footage that way and your learning curve will be much quicker.

Now go dive some more! YOu are off to a great start, you just need to practice practice and edit edit edit.

robin

 

[bottomfeeder22]

Thanks and keep it coming, criticism's the only way I'll get better! I did have a red filter, set the MWB at the deck, but perhaps was set too shallow compared to the rest of the dive (60ish feet). How much of a depth change do you need before you adjust MWB again? Every 15 feet? 20 Feet? Later in the trip, I was on a gentle slanting reef that went from 15 to 65 feet, and I messed around changing the WB at different depth changes (every 15 feet, every 20 feet, etc.) to try and get a feel for it.

I do realize that I was going too fast, that will just come with more experience. When I'm underwater filming, it feels like I'm moving sooooo slow that I'll bore the audience. Now I know that I'll have to move ridiculously slow u/w and firm up my shakiness.

I was using Sony Vegas Platinum 9.0, and didn't do any color adjustment - still learning that program.

I also ordered the basics of u/w videography, hopefully it gets here before I go offshore.

 

[TaiHei]

I enjoyed watching your video

Couple of things:
the color filter has a diminished affect at depth - WB helps
WB at your working depth for sure. It will make the sand look almost white and the water background a better deep blue. If nothing else WB on the sandy bottom

I was watching the other divers and then zip, the camera moved. Hold as steady as you can and count to 15 (or as long as there is good action), on your subject, edit out what you don't want

I know it can't always be done but try to keep the natural lighting (the sun), behind you. It makes better color and you won't see as many jaggies in the water.

Your video was well worth the effort. video takes a lot more work than people realize

I should follow my own advise

 

[bottomfeeder22]

Thanks for the tips, Tai! The recurring them I'm getting is "slower, slower, slower, WB, WB, WB". I'll start working on my next vid (the Benwood) and will post soon.

 

[robint]

Thanks for the tips, Tai! The recurring them I'm getting is "slower, slower, slower, WB, WB, WB". I'll start working on my next vid (the Benwood) and will post soon.

having never used WB underwater, I can't help you with that. My videos are all with only the red filter and then a bit of tweaking in editing. I think part of your problem is it seems a bit dark on the video. Was it that dark or do you think it was the camcorder?
Also, when I get deep, like over 80' depth, I take off the red filter as it makes the image too dark. Then I WB in the editing. YOu may have had better luck doing your manual WB with the red filter OFF since you were deep.

robin

 

[geokr]

Thanks and keep it coming, criticism's the only way I'll get better! I did have a red filter, set the MWB at the deck, but perhaps was set too shallow compared to the rest of the dive (60ish feet). How much of a depth change do you need before you adjust MWB again? Every 15 feet? 20 Feet? Later in the trip, I was on a gentle slanting reef that went from 15 to 65 feet, and I messed around changing the WB at different depth changes (every 15 feet, every 20 feet, etc.) to try and get a feel for it.

I just bought an SR12 and an Equinox housing - how did you set the WB underwater?

 

[bottomfeeder22]

having never used WB underwater, I can't help you with that. My videos are all with only the red filter and then a bit of tweaking in editing. I think part of your problem is it seems a bit dark on the video. Was it that dark or do you think it was the camcorder?
Also, when I get deep, like over 80' depth, I take off the red filter as it makes the image too dark. Then I WB in the editing. YOu may have had better luck doing your manual WB with the red filter OFF since you were deep.

robin

Interesting.... can you post a link to some of your video from 80'+? It was getting pretty dark down there, even though the sun was out for the most part. I haven't messed w/ WB in editing yet, that and taking better video are my next goals.